Effing the ineffable in the cricket world

September 16, 2007

Too Busy Posing, Y?

Yuvraj
Singh got out for 1 today against New Zealand, after being dismissed for 4
against Pakistan two days ago. Does he not realise that he could be making a
serious case for the captaincy, in all formats -- and a steady place in the
side -- by really shining in this tournament? He could be showing the fans, and the
selectors, a glimpse of a bright new future for India; an exuberant, athletic, young
India, missing none of the raw talent of some its predecessors. He should be trying to fill the current leadership vacuum, while at same time finally starting to define his place in his country's cricketing history.

I know that the Indian selectors tend to be quite conservative with their
choices, but I think they should take a leaf from the Australian playbook on
this one. In 2004, they had a number of options available when naming Steve Waugh's
successor, but they went with Ricky Ponting because they saw a certain
ineffable quality in him; a hint that they were dealing with a real winner
here, someone who was capable of rising to the challenge and excelling under the responsibility. Which Ponting has done, at least with the bat (he's lucky that his limited tactical acumen does not hinder the Australian juggernaut too much -- as Chris Cairns once said, "even my mother could lead this Australian side"). Maybe Yuvraj could become India's Ponting. I'd say it's worth a gamble.

I'd be happy as long as they don't give the position, as Anand Vasu suggests they might, to Tendulkar, Laxman, or especially Ganguly. (If you want a perfect case study of how the captaincy can break a man, look no further than Sourav's last six months at the helm in 2005. He was aging faster than Lindsay Lohan at that point, with deep furrows of worry constantly etched on his once-boyish face -- after he was dropped, he looked a deeply wounded man, physically and psychically, and I have to admit I gave him no chance of ever making it back into contention.) They should allow the Golden Generation to bow out in style, without any added pressures, to make sure that India's transition into the new decade is smooth and seamless... and to maybe provide the fans with a lasting memory of the undeniable greatness of that batting lineup.

Comments

yeah valid point moite. he is the perfect candidate to emulate what ponting has done with aus. only difference is, he doesn't exactly have straya's bowling line up to back him up, even though i'm loving sreesanth, wether he bowls well or not.
and yeah, india have failed so many times naming their best player for captain, the first example of this i know of in cricket was when straya chose bradman. don't think it affected the man's game like sourav's but don't know wether he was the best choice to lead the side.

on tonights game, it's a shame genetics will keep the deshi's small for a few generations. they had nothing against the short balls today, hope teams don't bully them out of the contest.

india have done it!! holy shit. after being 2/60 after 10 overs that was some seriously amazing batting to make it to 188 after 20.
so, now we have the battle of the sub continent... HUGE game boys, and it will decide two things. a) the losing coach had better watch his back b) whoever wins will decide player of the tourney between afridi and youvraj. can't think of ANYONE else.
thoughts?